National Unity Platform (NUP) Deputy President for Eastern Uganda, John Baptist Nambeshe, has been appointed acting president of the party, adding another chapter to a political journey that has taken him from local government leadership to the centre of Uganda’s opposition politics.
Nambeshe’s appointment was announced on Saturday by NUP president Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, alias Bobi Wine, who said the lawmaker would take over the party’s leadership following the end of Dr Lina Zedriga Waru’s four-month tenure as acting president.
Kyagulanyi praised Dr Zedriga for guiding the party during her time in charge, saying she had provided steady leadership and kept NUP focused.
“For four months, Dr Lina Zedriga Waru has been acting President of our Party. During this period, she has steered the party well and kept the revolution alive. We’re all very grateful for her dedication and service,” Kyagulanyi said.
He announced Nambeshe’s appointment while asking party leaders and supporters to rally behind the new acting leader.
“As her tenure comes to an end, I am pleased to announce that Hon. John Baptist Nambeshe, Deputy President Eastern Region, will be taking over as acting President of the National Unity Platform. I wish him well and request all leaders and comrades to accord him the necessary support,” Kyagulanyi said.
Nambeshe assumes the role at a time when Kyagulanyi has been away from the country following the January 2026 presidential election. After the election period, the NUP leader announced that he would temporarily travel abroad for engagements while continuing to monitor political developments in Uganda.
His absence saw the party rely on senior leaders to manage its affairs, with Dr Zedriga, the Deputy President for Northern Uganda, previously serving as acting president.
Born on November 24, 1965, in Manjiya County, Bududa District, Nambeshe’s leadership journey began outside elective politics.
He first worked as a teacher at Bududa Secondary School before later serving as a laboratory technician at Jinja College.
He went on to pursue studies in local governance and human rights at Uganda Martyrs University before obtaining a master’s degree in Social Sector Planning and Management from Makerere University.
Nambeshe entered elective politics in 2006 when he was elected LCIII chairperson of Bududa Town Council. Five years later, in 2011, he rose to become LC5 chairperson of Bududa District, gaining experience in local government administration.
Rise to Parliament
His transition to national politics came in 2016 when he was elected Member of Parliament for Manjiya County on the National Resistance Movement (NRM) ticket.
During his time in the ruling party, Nambeshe served on parliamentary committees, including those handling national economy and natural resources.
However, his relationship with the NRM leadership became strained after he opposed the removal of the presidential age limit in 2017, a constitutional amendment that allowed President Yoweri Museveni to seek re-election beyond the previous age restriction.
In 2020, Nambeshe left the NRM and joined the newly formed National Unity Platform ahead of the 2021 General Election, becoming one of the senior politicians to cross to the opposition party.
He retained his Manjiya County parliamentary seat on the NUP ticket in the 2021 election and was later appointed Opposition Chief Whip after NUP emerged as the largest opposition party in the 11th Parliament.
Within NUP, Nambeshe has risen through the ranks to become Deputy President for Eastern Uganda and one of the party’s most influential leaders.
His latest appointment is not his first time serving as acting president. He previously assumed the role during Kyagulanyi’s international trip in 2021.
With his new assignment, Nambeshe will oversee the party’s daily operations, drawing on decades of experience in local government, Parliament and opposition politics.
His appointment places him at the centre of NUP’s leadership structure as the party navigates the post-election period and prepares for its next political phase.
